Expressing the City Council’s support for the AdvanceKC strategic plan and underlying process and directing the City Manager to develop an ordinance whereby the City Council would approve the AdvanceKC Strategic Plan.

Expressing the City Council’s
support for the AdvanceKC strategic plan and underlying process and directing
the City Manager to develop an ordinance whereby the City Council would approve
the AdvanceKC Strategic Plan.

WHEREAS, the
City, utilizing the services of Market Street Services, initiated the
development of an economic development strategic plan in late 2011; and

WHEREAS, Mayor
James appointed a Steering Committee co-chaired by Madeline Romious and Tom
McDonnell, which committee has provided guidance to the process; and

WHEREAS, the
first step in the process was public input which involved two rounds of Focus
Group meetings where various participants in Kansas City’s economy met with the
consultants to provide input to the process and surveys were made available for
general public input; and

WHEREAS, the
second step in the process was a Competitive Snapshot where Market Street
compared Kansas City to three peer cities (Charlotte, Oklahoma City and
Indianapolis) to analyze our local economy’s various strengths and weaknesses;
and

WHEREAS, the
third step in the process was the development of the Strategic Plan which
included ten specific areas of goals, targets, and recommendations to improve
the economy and economic performance of the City; and

WHEREAS, the
fourth step in the process is the development of the Implementation Plan which is
currently underway and is focusing on what needs to be done organizationally to
accomplish the goals and strategies of the Strategic Plan; and

WHEREAS, the
Mayor has asked members of the Steering Committee to continue their involvement
as members of the Implementation Committee and is also planning to expand the
Implementation Committee so as to broaden its reach within the community with
one such addition being Councilman Ford serving as a liaison with the City
Council; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That
the City Council expresses its support for the AdvanceKC strategic plan and the
process referenced to above.

Section 2. That
the City Manager is hereby directed to prepare an ordinance which would adopt
the AdvanceKC Strategic Plan.